Yoyo my friends!!! As promised, here comes chapter two...the re-written *epic voice*
yes, this one also is basically the same as the original...except more meat...mmm, meat (proof - original word count for this chapter was 1,346...now it's 2,802 :D) - I don't plan on changing a lot of the plot, just a few minor details but it would be nice if peeps read the re-written versions as i put them up xxx

Disclaimer: Me no own...bad Square monster eat me if I say yes...apart from the OCs, they are entirely mine - and therefore I reserve the right to bully them as I wish XD

Original chapter uploaded: 21st February 2008
Re-written version uploaded: 2nd May 2009

Enjoy!!!

Chapter Two: Only Half

Sora awoke to the regular sounds of the island, the birds singing and the slight rustling of the trees as they were blown in the gentle breeze. He could hear the faint sounds of the ocean as the waves reached the shore. He felt peaceful for a few moments before everything came back to him along with a splitting headache. The images were still flashing in his mind, although not in the heavy onslaught that they had been in the previous night. Sora rubbed his eyes and sat up slowly; trying not to aggravate the pain he was feeling. That dream. Was it a dream? Sora couldn't tell anymore, after so many strange dreams, visions and memories, he couldn't tell whether it was anything real or just a manifestation of his desire for adventure. It was then that he remembered he was supposed to be meeting Riku and Kairi at the beach today, the thought of being able to lounge around in the sun all day with his friends brought a smile to his face momentarily. It soon disappeared when he saw the time on the clock that rested on his bedside table.

"Crap." He muttered under his breath, taking a few seconds to try and make his headache subside before launching himself out of bed.

On the other side of the island…

Kairi was sitting on the Paopu tree with Riku, watching the sun as it steadily rose higher into the sky. She had just finished relaying the story about the pier and how Sora had been convinced that the vines in the secret place were dead or dying.

"I'm just worried Riku. I keep getting this really bad feeling and it's telling me that something's happening, he just seemed so…scared."

"This is Sora we're talking about, there's never nothing happening." Kairi ignored Riku's comment.

"And before that, on the pier he was acting all down, he really misses everything."

"Who wouldn't? You have no idea what it's like to have to let go of something that gives you such a huge feeling of power and control."

"This is different; Sora never gave into the darkness." Riku narrowed his eyes and glanced at Kairi for a millisecond before looking back at the ocean, he knew she was just worried. Hell, he was worried, Riku was always worried. He had seen just what the darkness can do, experienced it first hand – it had made him try to kill his best friend. It scared him how easily he had fallen into it; he wouldn't wish that on anyone, a part of him even felt sorry for Xehanort.

"You don't think he's making it up do you?" Riku frowned at her.

"We've been best friends for years; I know he wouldn't lie, not about something like this."

"You're right, I'm sorry. I just wish I know what's going through his head sometimes."

"Don't we all?" Riku chuckled lightly but Kairi ignored his small joke, instead staring at her hands currently lying in her lap. He decided to change the subject. "So, what are we going to do to cheer him up? Help him let out a bit of frustration…" Kairi chuckled softly.

"What did you and Sora do every other time you needed to get rid of frustration?"

"Hit each other with wooden swords."

"Exactly. Why don't you two spar or something? Might even help him open up a bit. Plus if you use the keyblades, it'll probably remind Sora who he actually is."

"Keyblades are dangerous." Riku replied.

"That never stopped you before. Besides, it's called a cure spell – don't tell me you've forgotten it already?" Kairi said in a friendly mocking tone.

"Never thought I'd see the day when you'd promote violence."

"Never thought I'd see the day when you'd be against fighting." Kairi smiled at Riku but she felt different. She didn't want violence and fighting, sometimes when Riku and Sora used to spar she'd get worried that they'd end up hurting each other badly. Then again, if this was going to help snap Sora out of his state of angst, she would let it slide. He two continued to sit in a comfortable silence, just staring out at the sea whilst waiting for their spiky-haired friend to finally arrive.

As Sora's feet pounded against the sand as he ran along the beach, the nightmare still continued to haunt him. He tried to take his mind off what Roxas and the mysterious figure had said by focusing on what would be a day of just lounging around in the sun with his two best friends, but to no avail. As much as he wished to forget, the words 'we're coming for you' still reverberated around his head, causing a cold chill to run down his spine. He repressed the thoughts once more as the paopu tree came into view and he could see Riku and Kairi laughing about something. Hmm, maybe he was wrong when he said he wanted things to change.

"I'll tell them." He mumbled to himself as he crossed the wooden bridge that stretched between the small island and the even smaller one. Doing so sent sharp memories of the previous day running through his mind. Sora dared a glance back at the broken pier that had been ct off by a warning sign. Obviously Kairi had told someone about it, he prayed inwardly that she hadn't spoken anything about the claw marks. He had a feeling that if anyone knew about what had happened to the three of them during the past two years – they wouldn't take it too kindly. They'd probably think that they were lying. "It'll be better when I tell them." He mumbled once more before looking up to where Riku and Kairi were looking back at him, waiting for him to arrive.

"Hey guys!" He smiled and waved. As he reached the tree he hopped up onto it and sat down between the other two.

"Were you sleeping in this late?" Riku accused in a playful manner as he gazed at Sora in a patronising way.

"I was just…dreaming." Sora said bluntly, he couldn't really think of a better way to put it. He knew that this would probably spark off a conversation that would have him spilling the truth in no time. Kairi watched him, wondering. The last time Sora was talking about dreams was just a few days before the islands had been destroyed completely and the whole chain of events had begun.

"Anything out of the ordinary?"

"What's ordinary?" Sora laughed, scratching the back of his head. I was a nasty habit he had picked up that he used whenever he was feeling sheepish or was trying to hide something. He hoped that Kairi hadn't caught onto it.

"You know what I mean." No such luck.

"Dreams are dreams Kairi, they don't make sense and they're not real." Sora replied dismissively. He put his had to his forehead for a split second as a flash of pain bolted through his head, causing spots to appear in front of his vision but it was gone as soon as it had come.

"Are you okay?" Apparently Riku must have noticed the brief pain that shone in his eyes.

"Yeah, just a little bit of a headache bit I feel much better now!" He added with a cheesy grin. "Honest." He said when he noticed the disbelief in Riku's gaze. The three sat in silence for a few moments before Kairi remembered their initial aim of today – to cheer Sora up and to get him to talk. It might have been a bit of a nasty way to go about it, but the redhead was worried and se wanted to know what was going on. She had a niggling feeling deep down that something had happened that Sora was intending to keep from herself and Riku.

"Do you guys want to have another round with the keyblades?" She asked out of nowhere.

"Huh?"

"I'll referee, and you two can do all the sparring." She added. Sora was about to open his mouth to ask her where that had come from, but the thought of being able to feel the power of the keyblade running through him once more stopped him from questioning her.

"That's a really good idea!" Riku said enthusiastically before jumping down from the tree and taking up his place in the middle of the small landmass on the soft grass and sand that covered the surface. Well, Sora thought, whatever Kairi had been planning, Riku was obviously in on it. He couldn't bring himself to care as he got down off the tree trunk and took up a fighting stance a few feet away from Riku, facing him.

"I hope you haven't forgotten how to use one of these things." Riku said as he summoned Way To Dawn, watching as the light that surrounded it for a few moments glimmered in the tropical sun of the islands.

"Oh, you better hope luck is on your side old man – last time we fought I buried you." Sora retaliated, really getting into the swing of things.

"Old man? I'm only a year older than you." Riku replied swiftly, laughing at Sora.

"Age makes no difference. Prepare yourself for I will show no mercy." Sora said in a mock dark tone, trying not to laugh at his own words. Thoughts of the nightmare had been completely forgotten. It was when Sora tried to summon the Kingdom Key that he got the feeling something was wrong. He felt, deep don inside of him, something was holding the keyblade back – willing it to stay away from his hands. Sora stared at his right hand confusedly for a moment. He concentrated his thought harder, using every once of what he had to call his faithful weapon back to him. Riku stood, exiting his fighting stance to stare at him.

"You having second thoughts? His words seemed to snap Sora out of his daze as the Kingdom Key finally appeared in its usual flash of golden sparkles.

"Huh? Not on your life!" Sora smirked and began to charge towards Riku, but his thoughts were still wrapped around why the keyblade had refused his call, it never took that long to summon it, it never even took any time at all. The weight of the weapon in his hand was comforting during battle; he knew this was only a spar, but what if the heartless came back? What if he was completely helpless against them? After what had happened yesterday, he had suspicions that somehow, darkness was retuning. But what did Roxas mean? Trying to get in through him? As he remembered Roxas, he suddenly felt lonely, as if a part of him had been ripped out. Riku's war cry brought him back to reality, and in that moment, he saw Riku aim Way To Dawn at him – and Sora was completely helpless. He didn't know what to do, and even if he did he didn't think he could do it. His heart hammered beneath his ribs as the keyblade drew ever closer, he couldn't breathe. With all the effort he could muster, he brought up the Kingdom Key and held it with both hands, blocking the attack. It was just lucky that this wasn't a real fight; Sora knew he would have been dead by now. The Kingdom Key disappeared once more from his hands as he fell onto his knees, struggling to take in oxygen. The parry had managed to throw Riku back a little ways, they were a few feet apart again, and he was smirking confidently.

"Giving up already? Come on Sora, I know you can do better than this." Riku's words did nothing to snap him back to attention, rather they made him delve deeper into the past two years, and the good and the bad memories began to invade his head again. He clutched his head in pain, whatever it was that had begun yesterday and throughout his dreams; it was showing no signs of letting up. Sora shut his eyes tight as he felt tears stinging at the corners of his eyes – it felt like a marching band was running through his mind, trampling on everything, trying to tear him apart. He couldn't help but scream and pitch forward into the sand, curling in on himself.

"I didn't think you were that much of a bad loser Sora." Riku continued to smirk at him, thinking that he was just ashamed that he had lost his touch. But on closer inspection, he noticed that Sora was completely tense and shaking, his smirk faded as he rushed towards him, Kairi right behind. "Sora?" He put a hand on his shoulder, attempting to uncurl the boy so he could see his face.

"Can you hear me?" Kairi asked worriedly, placing her palm on his cheek. As soon as t made contact, Sora's eyes snapped open and he stared at her. Kairi gasped and snatched her hand back, Riku's mouth was gaping. His usual electric blue eyes were so dark that they appeared to be black, like the raging waters of a sea during a storm. Sora's breathing was rapid and shallow as he tried to form words.

"Kairi…what's happening?" Sora managed to rasp out before those eyes closed, his breathing evened out and his body relaxed into the sand.

He woke to a dreadfully familiar voice; he could make out cruel laughter as he began to gather himself. Sora opened his eyes, but he was still surrounded by darkness, and a pang ran through his chest as he realised where he must be. He was lying sideways on a cold surface, left cheek squashed against it. Sora groaned as he slowly sat up, rubbing a hand soothingly over his forehead before turning to look at the same figure who had visited him the night before.

"Who are you?" Sora asked angrily, but the figure only laughed harder.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" This only furthered Sora's frustration.

"What's happening to me? Tell me!"

"Aww, but I wouldn't want to worry your little head." He said in a patronising way as he stepped forward and ruffled Sora's spikes. Sora slapped his hand away and continued to scowl at the figure.

"Why did you come here if you aren't going to say anything?" The man seemed to find Sora's anger amusing, chuckling to himself continuously. "Are you just gonna stand there laughing?" Sora asked with rising anger.

"Oh, what are you going to do, oh master of the keyblade?" He replied, voice dripping with sarcasm as he held his hands up, feigning fear. Sora's anger boiled over as he jumped up and took a swing at the man, feeling he could no longer rely on the keyblade. However his fist just punched through cold, black smoke. The man was standing behind him, and cruel laughter escaped unseen lips once more. Sora wheeled around, only to be hit square in the chest that sent him flying, knocking the breath out of him. Sora landed on the ground harshly, gasping for breath as he propped himself up on his elbows. The man just stood, observing him for a moment before he spoke.

"No keyblade huh? She will be pleased."

"What are you talking about?"

"You'll find out soon enough." He replied calmly.

"I've already had enough of this! What the hell do you want with me?!" Sora prayed for an answer, anything – he knew this guy wasn't about to tell him his life story, but he hoped that there would be something to ease his frustration, even just a little. The man paused for a moment, as if contemplating a response before raising one gloved finger to point at Sora's chest, directly over his heart. He gave no chance for Sora to speak or even take this in; he was already walking away into a dark portal that stood, waiting for him to walk through. He turned his head back slightly over his shoulder, catching Sora's attention.

"My name is Xenithan…or Xen, if the mood takes ya." He raised his hand in a mock salute. "I'll be seeing ya soon." And then he was gone, fading into the darkness just like he had done the night before. Except then, Roxas had been there, he could still feel his presence. But now there was nothing, Sora knew that this guy, Xenithan, whoever he was, was the one behind it. Although he also knew that if he had asked the man, he wouldn't have gotten an answer. Sora lowered himself to the ground once more, covering his heart in a protective manner as he curled up, wishing to leave that place and never having to return.

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Anyways, Tata!!!